Want to walk in beauty? Check out this summer's south suburban garden walks

Among the many reasons to enjoy garden walks across the south suburbs this summer are the opportunities to see various designs and native plantings, to experience artists or musicians performing in their surroundings, and to get tips from master gardeners.

And, of course, you can simply enjoy a summer day in a beautiful setting.

Frankfort

“It seemed like a fun idea,” said Jan Sabey, owner of Frankfort’s Evilena’s Red Dresser, about starting a garden walk.

Evilena’s Red Dresser is hosting its second annual Garden Walk in Historic Downtown Frankfort June 22. Tickets are $15 and proceeds benefit The Conservation Foundation, of which Sabey’s sister-in-law is on the board. Its mission includes preservation and restoration of open lands and promoting stewardship of the environment in several counties in Illinois including Will County.

Sabey said there are nine gardens on the walk this year, showcasing a mix of free-form wild, natural and manicured styles.

A special treat this year at some of the gardens will be musicians, including a harpist, performing during the walk. A local artist will also be painting in front of one of the gardens.

“We added that dimension which will be great fun,” Sabey said.

The garden walk begins at 8:30 a.m. at Sabey’s store with a continental breakfast and runs through 2 p.m. Garden walk maps serve as an entry ticket into the gardens and participants can use them for a 20% discount at Evilena’s after the walk.

Tickets are $15 per person and available at Evilena’s Red Dresser, 20887 S. LaGrange Road.

Palos

The Palos Heights Woman’s Club’s “Palos in Bloom” Garden Walk is June 29.

Eileen Hunter is a 50-year member of the club, which was founded in 1938. She said the garden walk is one of the club’s fundraising events with proceeds going to scholarships for Stagg and Shepard high school students as well as a returning woman scholarship to Moraine Valley Community College.

Palos in Bloom kicks off after a continental breakfast at 9:30 at the recreation center, 6601 W. 127th Street. Then from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. guests will view six local gardens, four in Palos Heights and two in Palos Park.

Tickets are $25 and available at Dough Guys Bakery, 12248 S. Harlem Ave.; and at Salon L, 12237 S. Harlem Ave.

Hunter said the club developed the Anniversary Garden at Lake Katherine Nature Center.

Flossmoor

The National Council of Jewish Women South Cook Section presents its ninth annual Community Garden Walk from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 30.

The event kicks off at Goldberg Park in Flossmoor and will feature unique gardens across the south suburbs.

NCJW Vice President Gloria Lippert said in addition to having master gardeners and horticulturists on hand, often mayors or other representatives are in a garden to talk about their communities.

“We strongly feel this is a beautiful, undervalued area,” she said. “We are celebrating the beauty of our region and the excitement so many of our residents have in the work they put into beautifying where they live.”

For more information visit southlandgardenwalk.com.

Chicago Heights

Hosted by Union Street Gallery from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 6, the Chicago Heights Garden Walk 2019 will feature artists working in each garden featured.

Towns represented are Chicago Heights, Homewood and Flossmoor. After watching the artists working on their pieces inspired by each garden, visitors will be able to visit the gallery a few months later to see the completed works.

Tickets are $20 prior to event and $25 on the day. For more information go to unionstreetgallery.org.

Midlothian

This year’s Garden Walk is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 8. For more information, call the Beautification Committee at 708-872-0415.

Crete

The Crete Woman’s Club is hosting its 29th annual Garden Walk “A Day in the Country” June 26 and 27 with a preview night June 25.

“That is kind of unusual,” said Leslee Williams, past president of the Crete Woman’s Club.

Williams, a former gardener whose garden was part of the walk a few years ago, said the event is one of the bigger walks in the area and previous ones have had over 600 participants.

“We have a little bit of everything,” she said. “We have master gardeners stationed at various gardens who can answer questions from people.”

The walks are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days and there will be an artisan fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lincolnshire Country Club. Tickets are $15 in advance and $17 on the day. The preview night from 4 to 7 p.m. is a special ticketed event. More information on that and other details is cretewomansclub.net.